(NewsNation) — Defendants accused of killing two Kansas mothers appeared in court Wednesday as attorneys noted a key piece of evidence is still missing from discovery.
The five suspects are accused of killing Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two mothers who were driving from Kansas to Oklahoma for a supervised visit with Butler’s children.
At one point, nine deputies, seven defense attorneys and three prosecutors were present in the courtroom. All five defendants were also present in what the judge called a “physical arrangement [that] is unprecedented in this courtroom’s history and this courthouse.” The courtroom had been outfitted to accommodate all the defendants, using space in the jury box to sit all those who needed to be present.
Delays in discovery
Tifany Adams, 54; her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43; Cora Twombly, 44; her husband Cole Twombly, 50; and Paul Grice, 31, are accused of conspiring to commit murder. Investigators say the killings stemmed from a bitter custody battle between Butler and Adams, the paternal grandmother of Butler’s children.
Defense attorneys complained to the judge about not having received evidence from the prosecution as part of the discovery process. There was also concern about the fact that discovery would be coming from multiple agencies, including the FBI, which can be difficult in state cases.
Defense attorneys expressed concerns that the lack of discovery would not give them enough time to review evidence prior to a preliminary hearing. The prosecutors noted that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is likely turning over four terabytes of discovery and will produce two terabytes prior to the preliminary hearing.
One key piece of evidence that has not been received is the medical examiner’s report on how the two women died, with both defense attorneys and prosecutors saying they did not have the final report. According to prosecutors, that information is expected in two to three weeks.
What happened to Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley?
Butler and Kelley were driving to Oklahoma to see Butler’s children when they disappeared. The children’s father had legal custody but was in a rehabilitation facility, so they were staying with his mother.
The car the pair were driving was found abandoned along a highway near the Oklahoma border, with blood and other evidence of potential violence at the scenes. The women’s remains were eventually found in a chest freezer buried in a pasture in Oklahoma.
Court filings show a bitter custody battle between Butler and Adams, with death threats and threats of violence being made. The group of suspects are allegedly part of a religious group known as “God’s Misfits,” though the group’s leader has denied any involvement with them.
Affidavits say the group plotted to kill Butler and went to elaborate lengths to conceal the crime. Filings also suggest there had been previous, unsuccessful plans to kill Butler, including one plan that included dropping an anvil through her windshield.
What’s next for the case?
The judge appears to be set to proceed with all five defendants present at every hearing as long as it can be done safely. Once defense counsel has a reasonable amount of time to prepare, a date for the preliminary hearing will be set.
While all defendants may have a joint preliminary hearing, the judge noted that any defendant who wishes to have a separate hearing can file a motion to do so. The next status hearing is set for July 17.